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This track is taken off of Horisont's latest album "Tva Sidor Av Horisonten".

Yes, another Swedish 70’s inspired hard rock band! I guess Sweden ranks no. 1 in the world when it comes to this genre. Horisont picks up where Witchcraft and Graveyard laid down the cornerstones and they are out on Crusher Records who also nurses Dead Man. So if you’re a sucker for music inspired by Pentagram, Blue Cheer and what not …… and you dig denim and long haired guys this is a kick ass record. Horisont is all about blues rock and boogie with heavy riffing and long guitar solos. But also more Sabbath’ish inspiration may be heard in “The Unseen” which gives you everything from doomy atmosphere and slow riffing to beauty parts with killer vocals. Half the songs are with Swedish lyrics giving a cool feel to the songs and “Du Röde” is an ultra slow and emotional track giving you the special Swedish touch also known from a band like Svarta Pan. Killer new band!

Mose Giganticus is an American synth punk / heavy metal band founded in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 1999, and currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Led by songwriter, vocalist, programmer, drummer, and keyboardist Matt Garfield, the band is augmented by an array of additional musicians for live performances, including Zac Hobbs (touring guitarist), Brooks Wilson (live and studio guitarist/bassist), and Joe Smiley (live and studio guitarist). Stylistically, Mose Giganticus is most notable for the incorporation of vocoder and synthesizer into traditionally “guitar-centric” musical genres, as well as for Garfield’s prominent use of a modified Roland AX-7 keytar in their live performances. The band has released two albums with a third due out in Summer 2010 and have toured North America extensively, including the Yukon and Alaska, regions rarely visited by rock musicians.

Garfield, drummer in several Philadelphia-area hardcore punk rock bands, began the project as a solo electronic home-recording project in 1999, playing few occasional live performances. His focus on the band intensified years later, in 2005, with a significantly revamped sound rooted in hardcore punk, while still maintaining elements of electronic music.[1] This culminated in the 2006 debut full-length album, The Invisible Hand, a concept record based around humanity’s relationship with technology. Initially released on Richmond, Virginia-based Valiant Death Records, the record was followed by several US tours in 2007 with fellow electronic bands Abiku and The Emotron.

The band plays a unique brand of synth-infused progressive sludge metal.

Recommended if you dig: Howl, Black Tusk, Zoroaster

GET IT HERE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. New Keepers of the Water Towers- "Masterclaw".

This track is taken off the band's 2009 release "Chronicles".

With a sound described as "a sonic Swedish collision between the heaviest of metal and the firmest of rock wrapped in lyrical themes of dwelling beasts and mythical creatures", NEW KEEPERS OF THE WATER TOWERS deliver a tightly executed mix of headiness and brawn. The band's twin guitar attack and striking, earnest riffs create a dense, rhythmic roar assembled in such a way that each song will batter its way into your brain, heart, and memory. The riffs are huge, the rhythms are sneaky and brutal, and the complex unison "guitarmonies" effortless, ranging from soft, almost psychedelic sections to gold-plated passages of no-nonsense headbanger frenzy. Vocalist / guitarist Rasmus Booberg's spooky tenor, bluesy inflection and guttural roar rolls like thunder across epic songs spanning both the intense and the sublime, adding depth to an album that is bombastic and exciting from start to finish.

The band's latest release "The Calydonian Hunt" is currently available on Meteor City Records.

Recommended if you dig: Truckfighters, Asteroid, Freedom Hawk

GET IT HERE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Noctum-"Mistress".

This track is taken off their latest release "The Seance".

Yet another band from Sweden pouring their soul into slabs of tasty doom rock. Combining thunderous bass lines, ferocious riffing and a vocalist eerily reminescent of Magnus Pelander from Witchcraft this band takes their cue from the many great doom bands of the seventies. This a band to watch out for.

This track is taken off of their most recent release "Sweet Mississippi Deal" on Transubstans Records.Stonewall Noise Orchestra is rooted in the beautiful industrial city of Borlänge, Sweden. The band, wich consists of members from Demon Cleaner (Snicken and Jansson), Greenleaf (Jansson) and several other constellations was formed in the summer of 2004. Mr. Pillow joined the last Demon Cleaner tour and did a great job. Jonas and Lars-Inge have been around in the local rock scene for many years so it came natural to them to join the “noise orchestra”.Influenced by bands like Black Sabbath, Soundgarden and Monster Magnet they manage to deliver their own unique version of pure ground pounding rock with great vocals and melodies.Recommended if you dig: Greenleaf, The Awesome Machine, Devil To Pay

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

"Blekinge, the name of the part of Sweden SIGNO ROJO hails from loosely translates to "Pale nothing"... That could be seen as somewhat indicative of the national character of the nation that has spawned some of the best harder-edged musical groups around these last decades.

Also cheap furniture.

SIGNO ROJO is an entity with both fleet firmly planted. One foot is anchored in the deep sludge of southern USA and the other planted in the etheral world of introspective post-metal. The dangly bits inbetween have, on the other hand, been dipping into a wide variety of places. Be it crust-punk, doom-metal, classic prog or hardrock, SIGNO ROJOs privates has had an intimate history with it.

The Band proper was formed in the late autumn of 2009, when the four members met at a local metal-show. They began writing almost immediatly and spent the following winter and spring cooked up in the rehersalroom constructing and shaping a dynamic live-set that continues to evolve to this day. The following summer they started their crusade of gathering as much live experience as possible with their hopes set high on a touring future. A hardworking band is a healthy band and SIGNO ROJO craves the excitement, the energy and the positive social interactions you only get at a live show."

Sweden's Signo Rojo bleeds crushing riffs into atmospheric down-tempo sludge. Their influences range from Mastodon to Neurosis and it is evident throughout the album. Vocalist/bassist Jonas Nilsson growls his way through each track albeit maybe a bit to high in the mix, but he is a pretty good "growler" nonetheless. Usually post-metal albums tend to stray a bit because of their length, but there is enough pummeling riffage to keep the listener interested and the songs do not get too long with last track "Apotheosis" clocking in at only 8:43. The band currently has the album available as a free download on their Bandcamp site.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Before I get started, I need to fill you guys in on something. I want to make it understood that when I receive an album for review, I would estimate that nearly 95% of the time, I have no prior knowledge of the band I’m hearing…that is to say in almost every case…I’ve never heard of them. Furthermore, I typically make it a point to avoid reading anyone else’s thoughts or opinions about an album before I’ve given it a listen myself. You see, I don’t want any outside influences on my own impressions. I don’t want to go in with the presumption that an album is supposed to be “amazing”…or by contrast…that it’s supposed to “suck”. For my reviews, I and I alone will be the judge of that.

So why am I telling you all of this? Because in the case of Beehoover’s Concrete Catalyst, I went in with a completely blank slate, having no idea what to expect and came away with an entirely new perspective on how music is created. These guys literally made me re-think all that I thought I knew about heavy music…or music in general for that matter. Now admittedly, those are some pretty big statements and I can understand a little skepticism from those who may be uninformed. I’ll do my best to explain…

“Oceanriver” is our first glimpse into the eclectically quirky and insanely heavy world of Beehoover from Esslingen, Germany. This track alone will introduce you to the band’s off-tempo drumming, their love of dissonance and their use of guitar chords and harmonies that aren’t really guitar chords and harmonies at all. You see, that’s where Beehoover is a little different…this “band” is actually only two guys, Ingmar Petersen (vocals/bass) and Claus-Peter Hamisch (drums/vocals). And Petersen seems to have a way of making the bass guitar do things that I didn’t realize the instrument was capable of doing. In fact, as I listened to Concrete Catalyst, I kept returning to the band’s website to double and triple check that I hadn’t missed the fact that another instrument was being played…particularly a guitar. But alas…with the exception of the subtle acoustic guitar on the intro to “Rocking Chair” and the ballad “Wilde Geese Yell” (which shows up about three quarters of the way through the album and features Petersen crooning over an ominous backdrop of thunder and rain), Beehoover is all drum and bass.

But before you go accusing them of being some low and slow one trick pony…hold up just one second. I defy you to sit still while listening to tracks like “Five Minutes of Resistance”, “Sultana” or “Counted is Bygone”! And by the way…tell me you don’t hear a guitar in there…I simply cannot believe all that noise is being created by a bass! There is so much going on in this music it is almost indescribable. From the contagiously, heavy grooves to the discordant interludes to the twisted poetry of Petersen’s lyrics, this is something altogether different…like catchy post-metal, for lack of a better description.

And speaking of Petersen, how have I made it this far without mentioning the man’s vocals? Throughout Concrete Catalyst, you’ll hear a fascinating amalgamation of Serj Tankian meets Mike Patton from the over-the-top, operatic notes to the high pitched screams…right down to the occasional growl of the guttural variety. Or how about on "The Dragonfighter", where believe it or not, the vocals bear a striking resemblance to Tenacious D…except unlike that comedic duo, Petersen is absolutely serious when he sings "feel my sword, oh mighty beast"…twelve sided dice not included.

So getting back to my original point with this review, Beehoover’s latest record has made me completely rethink music. You see, I contend that if these two guys are capable of making an album this explosive, this heavy, this original and perhaps most importantly, this contagious with only a bass guitar and a set of drums…then what the hell is everyone else out there doing? Shame on you lazy ass power-trios…padding your sound with that unnecessary guitar. And don’t even get me started if you have more than three members “overcrowding” your band.

I'm obviously joking a little bit here, but honestly, this duo has just upped the ante…thrown down the gauntlet…set the bar at a new level…pick whichever cliché you wish. The bottom line is that Concrete Catalyst is an album that sounds incredibly fresh to my ears. It isn’t everyday that you discover a piece of music with this kind of talent and originality on display. Seriously folks…I think it would behoove you to check out Beehoover…c'mon, you knew that was coming.

"SweetKiss Momma, the five-piece rock powerhouse hailing from rural Washington State, USA, comes charging right into the ears and hearts of music fanatics across the globe. Packing an authentic punch of rock, blues, and southern soul, they skillfully combine the raucousness of a wild Saturday night, with the dulcet harmonies of a sunny Sunday morning, and possess the rare ability to be both exhilaratingly fresh and comfortably familiar. "

I know I am a bit late getting to this one as it seems like everyone and their mother has reviewed it already. I'll get straight to the point. This is a tremendous rock band and their latest release "Revival Rock" is a tremendous rock record. It is interesting that this band hails from Washington State as their organic rootsy blues sound is very "southern". As interestingly stated on their Facebook page, "high-octane, Southern-style rock-n-roll can come from anywhere, even the Pacific Northwest". The songs are very spiritual and filled with gospel harmonies, a bit of funk and a whole lot of soul. So, if you have been searching for that ever elusive great rock record, then you have found your gem. Highly recommended!

Speeding at you like an out of control train, the UK's XII Boar blast their way into your skull with ear-splitting leads, sonic riffs, fuck off vocals and a sweet southern groove. What a great way to start off your day! The band has made their latest release available for free download on their Bandcamp page. Go get it now!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Gritty, grimey southern sludge metal is what Virginia-based band Beaten Back To Pure oozes or shall I say oozed, being that the band has not released anything since 2004's "The Burning South". Since then, vocalist Ben Hogg has gone on to form Birds of Prey, Plague the Suffering, and most recently Hour of 13. For those of you unfamiliar with the band, here is a little bit of a bio:

"Citing the three B's (beer, bongs and boredom) as inspiration, vocalist Ben Hogg and guitarist Vince Burke formed self-described "Grassroots Piss-Metal" band Beaten Back to Pure in the state of Virginia, during the sweltering summer of 1998. Two years later, shortly after recording the "Double Barrel Blasphemy" demo and welcoming second guitarist Eric Sundt, bassist Tim "Slam" Jacobs, and drummer Chuck Ember, Beaten Back to Pure began recording their first album, 2001's Southern Apocalypse, with Today Is the Day mastermind Steve Austin acting as producer. Relentless touring and a second album entitled The Last Refuge of the Sons of Bitches followed in 2002, and, after replacing Sundt with new guitarist Richie Scharr, the band focused its energies on album number three. This would emerge in 2004 via new record label This Dark Reign (the band's first two outings having been issued by U.K.-based Retribute Records), and was titled Burning South."

Unfortunately the band is no longer together, but they left us with some of the finest southern-tinged whiskey-soaked crusty sludge metal ever made. What set them apart was that they were a bit more up-tempo than many of their peers. The thick as hell riffs, gargantuan vocals and groove was the soundtrack to the perfect ride along the Highway To Hell.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

My inspiration for this Flashback Friday feature came from finally having an opportunity to see doom legends Saint Vitus play live earlier this week. The band has been together, albeit sporadically, in some incarnation or another for nearly as long as I've been alive, yet to my knowledge, this was the first opportunity I've ever had to see them live. Given those odds…I figured it was a show I better not miss, and damn if it wasn't worth the 35 year wait. But as always…let's start at the beginning.

Saint Vitus, along with Trouble, Pentagram and a handful of others, were the very first to play the style of music that we now call doom. Now let me emphasize to you the magnitude of that statement. There are plenty of legendary bands out there who have had immeasurable influence on various sub-genres of this music scene over the past 20 plus years (Down, Crowbar, Orange Goblin…the list goes on). Saint Vitus were one of the originals…the guys that those guys looked up to.

In fact, let me tell you a little story. Back around 1993 (or maybe it was 1994…I can't really remember), I went to see Corrosion of Conformity at a shitty, little dive bar in Raleigh, North Carolina (their home town). Prior to the show, I was hanging out outside the place and happened to run into Pepper Keenan. Now, I wish I could tell you that we had some really cool discussion about the state of rock n roll or his upcoming plans to start a side project with Philip Anselmo (remember this was still a couple of years before Down would release NOLA). But no…the conversation really went more like this…

And unfortunately that was about the extent of our conversation…but I think my point is clear.

Saint Vitus got their start in Los Angeles in the late 70's when Dave Chandler (guitar), Mark Adams (bass), Armando Acosta (drums) and Scott Reagers (vocals) joined together to make music under the name Tyrant. Whether they eventually changed their name to Saint Vitus due to their obvious affinity for Black Sabbath (Sabbath's Vol. 4 has a song called "St. Vitus' Dance") or because the real Saint Vitus is the patron saint of entertainers, I don't know for sure. Regardless, by the time the band released their self-titled debut album in 1984, their name had been forever changed.

The album was released on SST Records, a label owned by fellow SoCal musician Greg Ginn…guitarist of hardcore legends Black Flag (another band from which Vitus drew influence). It was followed by an EP titled The Walking Dead and then a year later by their sophomore effort, Hallow's Victim, which would be the last to feature Reagers on vocals. Enter Scott "Wino" Weinrich.

Having already spent time as the vocalist/guitarist for The Obsessed, Weinrich was no stranger to the burgeoning doom scene that Saint Vitus called home. His influence on the band's sound was immediately noticeable as their next album Born Too Late, which was released in 1986, would, over time become known as their masterpiece. Songs like "H.A.A.G. (Hell Ain't A Game)", "The War Starter" and of course the title track simply defined Saint Vitus. The album is still considered a high water mark for the genre today.

The following year, Saint Vitus released another EP titled Thirsty and Miserable, after the Black Flag song of the same name, which was one of the three songs on the release. These songs would later be included on the re-release of Born Too Late. In 1988, the Wino led version of the band released Mournful Cries, their final album on SST Records. The album continued in the same vein as its predecessor, a heavy slab of all out doom, but State-side, it didn't make much of a splash in the sales department and frustration began to grow within the band.

Weinrich would stick around for one more album, the 1990 Hellhound Records release V, before leaving to resurrect his old band The Obsessed. His replacement was Christian Lindersson of the Swedish band Count Raven. Lindersson did vocals on the band's sixth album C.O.D. which was released in 1992, but by the following year, Vitus came full circle by replacing him with their original singer Scott Reagers. The second go around with Reagers resulted in one album, Die Healing, which was released in 1995, but the band still was unable to match the intensity they'd found with Weinrich and in 1996, they called it quits.

In their post Saint Vitus days, Dave Chandler went on to work with Trouble's Ron Holzner in a band called Debris Inc. while Acosta stayed busy in a project called Dirty Red. Both Reagers and Adams remained relatively quiet within the music industry. Of course Weinrich's post-Vitus days were possibly his most successful, as he would continue to make music in The Obsessed as well as his other musical outlets which include Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, Shrinebuilder and his own solo material.

The classic lineup of Weinrich, Chandler, Adams and Acosta reunited briefly in 2003 for a show in Chicago and then again in 2009 for some festival dates in Europe. Unfortunately, by the time of the second reunion, health problems had begun to take their toll on Acosta and he was unable to perform with the band. In his absence, Henry Vasquez from the band Blood of the Sun was brought in to sit behind the drums. Sadly, Acosta passed away in November of 2010.

The good news is this…his memory lives on in the music of Saint Vitus. As I've already made you aware, that music is alive and well in the clubs and music halls of America. Vitus' reunion led them to a co-headlining spot on the Metalliance Tour which is making its way across the U.S. this very moment. Playing alongside seasoned metal veterans Crowbar and Helmet as well as upstarts like Howl and Red Fang, Saint Vitus is introducing a whole new generation, who very well may have been "born to late", to the doom that started it all.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Reverb Nation players for the March Bandness Elite Eight appear to not be working correctly and rather than have the risk of losing all the votes in the poll, I have just decided to let it go. There has to be a problem on Reverb Nation's side because they were working previously. Looks to be some pretty close matchups, especially in the Stoner Rock Region. Can Propane Propane really win it all as a #16 seed?

This week's version of "Heavy Rotation" is going to be a little different. I have chosen 5 songs from 5 albums that I have been listening to and put them in a "Heavy Rotation" playlist along with a bit of commentary. Click on each album cover to listen to song.

1. The first track "Mancoon" comes off of Jason...The Dragon the new album by Southern Sludge mongers Weedeater. If you liked the previous albums by this band you will love this new album. This track is a nice thick as hell slab of bass heavy riffage. Quick and to the point.

Here is an excellent review of the CD:

The Sleeping Shaman

by Pete Hamilton-Giles

"It was with great anticipation that Weedeater's new album Jason...The Dragon arrived for review. After God Luck and Good Speed, a lot must have been hanging for all interested parties on Weedeater upping the anti by releasing something even bigger, greater and more awe inspiring. Having toured the aforesaid album in Europe two times in as many years, a new release was well overdue. Jason...The Dragon may have been a strange name for the album, and yet all you need to do is adopt the North Carolina drawl and suddenly the once innocent childlike title is transformed into something far more Dixie appropriate. I did chuckle when I realised how accomplished the band have come to achieving sleight of hand word play." (Read more...)

Buy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. The next track is a bit of a rarity. I must say that this was actually the first time I heard Orange Goblin's cover of Trouble's "Black Shapes of Doom". There is not much else I could possibly say other than just listen. It appears that the song is only available on the version of the new Orange Goblin box set sold through Rise Above Records. The song is included as a bonus track on the "Frequencies From Planet Ten" CD. I could be wrong of course.

"Frequencies from Planet Ten is the sound of Orange Goblin trying to establish ourselves and experimenting with an array of different influences. It was an exciting time for us as we were just finding our feet as a band. We were young and the UK stoner /doom scene was just coming to fruition so it was great to be a part of that. The album has been out of print for a while, its great that its getting a re-release. I think the songs still sound strong and relevant, which is why we still include a lot of this material in our live set to this day and a lot of the newer OG fans can discover where it all started, only this time re-mastered and with the addition of bonus tracks and unseen artwork!"

Buy
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3. What would a playlist be without a song from Lo-Pan? "Spartacus" personifies what Lo-Pan is all about. A great driving heavy rock song with soaring vocals and a killer riff. Perfect! This song was taken off of their current album "Salvador" out on Small Stone Records now!

Here is an excellent review of the CD:

HellRide

by Jay Snyder

"A raging, beating heart with a big set of balls hanging underneath is what immediately comes to mind whenever I think of Columbus, Ohio’s powerhouse quartet Lo-Pan. This band runs on nothing but steam powered emotion, and honest rock n’ roll. From the first time I saw the band I was impressed, and once Jeff jumped behind the microphone (or rejumped according to the band members themselves) the magic was complete. The band sounded ready to take on the world with the Sasquanaut LP, and subsequently took my soul by storm with each live gig I had the pleasure of witnessing. These guys were on a fuckin’ tear, and it was easy to tell that their next record was going to be one for the books." (Read more...)

Buy
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4. The next track on the playlist is "The Mergatroid" by Robot Lords of Tokyo. This one goes back a few years. Taken off the band's 2008 album "Whiskey, Blood & Napalm", "this sophomore release positively drips with alcohol-fueled riffage, guitar hero shredding, and more groove-metal swagger than you can shake a stick at. For fans of Sabbath, Down, Clutch, and fleet-fingered guitar solos."

Buy
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5. The final track comes to you from Crowned By Fire. Taken from their latest CD "Prone To Destroy", this band takes on a more metal approach by combining machine-like drumming with groove metal riffing and angst driven vocals. Fans of Pantera, Black Label Society, and Black Sabbath rejoice.

"Not many bands can nail the true Heavy Metal style like these 4 dudes, blending everything from 70's Hard Rock to Doom Metal and everything in between" Ed - DOOMMANTIA

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

"SWITCH OPENS from Stockholm, Sweden started out in 2000 as Fingerspitzengefühl. They made two albums for Kooljunk Communications, “Fingerspitzengefühl” in 2004 and “Happy Doomsday” in 2006, and decided to continue as SWITCH OPENS in 2008. The three albums have all been highly acclaimed in Swedish and European rock press, such as Close-Up Magazine, Sweden Rock Magazine, Metal Hammer, Rock Hard and numerous webzines. “Happy Doomsday” was nominated as best metal/punk in the Swedish independent music awards (Manifest) in 2006. The band has done extensive gigging on their own, but also supported bands such as NEUROSIS, SCARS ON BROADWAY and ENTOMBED. The band has earned a reputation as an adrenalized live act, crushing everything in their way. Switch Opens signed to GMR Music Group in October 2008 and the self-titled record was released in Scandinavia in September 2009 and in the rest of Europe in the end of October. In January 2010, the album won P3 Guld, the Swedish national radio music awards, in the Rock/Metal category."

Apparently taking their name from a Soundgarden song title, Stockholm's Switch Opens brilliantly innertwines heavy rock, doom riffs, progressive rhythms and psychedelia to create a simply amazing collection of hard driving rock songs. Vocalist/Bassist Jesper Skarin adds to the mix with a very unique voice which at times is very clean and at other times very raspy. I'm still trying to pinpoint who he sounds like. The band's strong point is their ability to take all the above traits and make it a very cohesive performance. This is some pretty killer stuff.

What others are saying:

RagnarokRadio

by Phil Sim

"I’ll get it out of the way right from the start - Switch Opens are a Swedish metal band. Yeah, I know, you’re probably scuttling for cover toward the stereotype of all those identical ‘Gothenburg scene’ melodic death metal bands…but fear not. To start with, Switch Opens are from Stockholm, some 300 miles away from Gothenburg. And when it comes to metal, their sound too is a comparable distance away." (Read more...)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Shining the spotlight on a musical movement that’s ready to blast the world back four decades, Ripple Music is releasing the long awaited Heavy Ripples double 7” compilation that features the sonic delights of four up and coming acts who embrace the sounds of rock n’ roll the way it used to be played: aggressive, uncompromising, honest, gritty, and most of all, fun! More than just an ode to the old school ways of rock n’ roll, these four bands embrace the lifestyle and the sounds of a bygone era. This release has a limited first pressing of 500 copies and the tripped-out gatefold art was contributed by Wayne “Braino” Bjerke, who has lent his artistic talents to all of the Mighty High releases to date.

Heavy Ripples will be available on April 19th, 2011, just in time for all of the 4/20 celebrations around the world. Here's what the press is saying:

"Stone Axe's “Nightwolf” is one of the bad ass of all bad ass songs, reminds me a bit of ZZ Top’s “Tush” mixed with early Judas Priest. Sun Gods in Exile’s “Over My Broken Bones” and continues the great sound from their 2009 debut. Grifter gets two songs on this release, and both are punchy, upbeat, catchy and Grifter seems to be having a lot of fun. Mighty High's “Hempophobic” is fast punchy and the guitars are tight with hints of a blues tune in between the bong hitting.This delicious slab of wax first pressing is limited to 500 copies so don’t hesitate on ordering yours." -- The Soda Shop

“As we approach the end of winter this is the perfect thing to melt those frosty edges off of you and warm you up a bit . . . Lots of pure grit and grooves to spare on this one." - Heavy Metal Time Machine

There have been some very awesome bands to come out of Greece lately and Dala Sun is no exception. This 3-piece from Patra in the west of Greece puts their stamp on some awesome desert rock tunes that embody a little touch of doom into the mix as well. The band has made their debut album "Saladun" available for free download or if you would like a physical copy you can get one by contacting the band at this e-mail address:

Monday, March 21, 2011

Don't let the name Mother Sun Flower fool you; these friendly long hairs play music seething with rage. Conceived less than a year ago by members of Baltimore bands The Flying Eyes (heavy-psych rock) and Whoarfrost (psychedelic grind-core), this trio started collaborating to blow off steam and write music without thinking to hard. They just let it happen. With a sound encompassing Sleep's crushing stoner-metal, Sonic Youth's eerie no-wave, and the guitar-worshiping jams of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mother Sun Flower plays with abandon. They released their debut EP in January of 2011 when they opened for the infamous doom duo, Jucifer and now they want you to hear it!

Mother Sun Flower bring an unusual form of aggression to their brand of heavy psych. With song titles such as "Death Walk" and "I Will End You" the band manages to either sedate the listener into atmospheric bliss or to brilliantly just piss them off. Good stuff. The band has made their latest EP available for free download so you can check them out for yourself.

JP & The Jackrollers is a rock power trio formed by Jeff Pruitt(Guitars, Lead Vocals) & Steve Eleogram(Bass) in Feb. 2010. After deciding to stop playing in cover bands and start performing their own material, the two formed a duo. They went through a few percussionists but they were able to find a fit in Kevin Carpenter(Drums) straight from Nawlins, LA. This high-intensity 3-piece based in Memphis, TN will put a show on for you that you will never forget. Their songs range from psychedelic groove based jams to heavy, high-energy, fast-as-hell Rock N' Roll. When asked about the bands sound, one fan was noted as saying "its like end of the world shit, no doubt". The Jackrollers cut their first record "Decapitated Blues" in the Music + Arts Studio in Archer Records and are currently preparing to start on their next effort. They are gigging heavily and constantly writing new material for their newest

Sunday, March 20, 2011

This week I am going to try something a little different. Instead of featuring one new band, I will feature a triple shot of Sunday Sludge. Each band's sound will be a different sub-genre of sludge. Ex. Southern, Atmospheric, Hardcore, etc. I will still feature one influential/more well known band every other week. Let me know what you think. Now onto this week's bands...

The first band is Atmospheric Sludge band VYGR from Boston, MA. Blending the drone and gloom of bands such as Cult of Luna, Mare, and Neurosis with downtuned riffs reminiscent of Crowbar and Old Man Gloom, VYGR (pronounced 'Voyager') adds their own experimental, space-oriented sound to create a crushingly heavy soundtrack for altered states of mind. The band has just released a new album called "Hypersleep".

Next up is Sludge/Doom band Lazarus Blackstar from Bradford, UK. Formerly called Khang. Bryan Outlaw(Threads) quit during the process of writing Khang's second LP because he disliked the direction the music was going in (too slow and heavy). The band recorded the album anyway without vocals. A mutual friend suggested that Paul Catten (The Sontaran Experiment), a vocalist the band admires, could use the position, so they let him hear the CD and 30 seconds into the first track he said he needed to be involved. They changed their name during the recording of the 2004 demo because the feel was much different from Khang, and Lazarus Blackstar was born. In March 2008 Mikhell replaced Paul on vocals. The band is currently in the studio mixing tracks for a new album TBD.

The final band I have for you today is Sludge/Hardcore band Godsize from Birmingham, UK. Godsize formed in May 2000. Playing the UK and Ireland with bands such as Anthrax,Raging Speedhorn, Dragonforce, Viking Skull and Skindred (to name a few). First full album release "Hymns for the Fallen" came in 2008 through Meltdown Records. They have just recorded their follow up album and are looking to release it early this year.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Before I get started talking about the mysterious history of Eldemur Krimm, let me first give a shout out to Bill from the Soda Shop for recommending these guys to me. You see, prior to his recommendation and my ensuing research for this edition of Flashback Friday, I knew nothing about this band from Portland, Maine…never even heard of 'em. I also want to add that subsequent to this brief glimpse into the band's history, you can check out a review of their album Dirigo that was recently posted over at the Soda Shop right here.

The story begins in the early 2000's, when the band was already infecting the Northeastern United States with its distinct sound, which blended bluesy psychedelic rock with the intricate and improvisational grooves often associated with jam bands. Eldemur Krimm were comprised of three Portland rock vets, including Fred Dodge (ex Swamp Witch Revival and Stoned Lily) on vocals and guitar, Jason Marshall (ex Petting Zoo and Trivium…no, not that one) on bass and Stefen Samuels (also ex Trivium) on drums. The guys made two attempts at complimenting their sound with a second guitarist, first with Neil Collins (ex Lincolnville and Twisted Roots) who would play with the band for about a year before skipping town to sail to the Carribbean (really, you can't make this stuff up) and then briefly with Matt Robins from local rockabilly legends King Memphis. But at the end of the day, the true essence of Eldemur Krimm would emerge as that of a power trio.

And what of the band's name? Well apparently it was taken from a character out of Dodge's own science fiction writing. How appropriate then that the singer was once quoted as describing his band's sound as "sci-fi rock". And you can hear it for yourself on Krimm's 2003 debut Dirigo (the name of which is an homage to their home state as it is the official motto of Maine and means "I Lead" in Latin). A true underground classic, the album featured a healthy dose of all the quirky, sludgy and twangy elements that gave the band their one of a kind sound…like Primus riffing on Sabbath with Gregg Allman along for the ride. Perhaps an even better description comes from John Althoff of the band Conifer who once said Eldemur Krimm was "like Mountain on crack"…referring to the classic American rock band who gave us "Mississippi Queen".

Dirigo was released on the band's own Yog-Sothoth Records, another name that sheds a little light on what made Eldemur Krimm tick, as the word "Yog-Sothoth" comes from the works of classic horror/sci-fi/fantasy writer H. P. Lovecraft. And speaking of what made the band tick…Dodge once said the inspiration behind his tripped out, backwoods lyrics was "growing up in Isleboro", an isolated Maine town that the singer described as "lawless"…and perhaps more importantly, as having "the most potent marijuana ever grown". But it wasn't just Dodge's lyrics that cast a frighteningly mystical aura over Krimm's sound…it was also his appearance. The man is an imposing figure, standing six feet, eight inches tall and sporting a greying beard down to his chest, he looks kind of like a cross between Rob Zombie and Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.

The band's aural and visual quirkiness provided them a cult following that resulted in countless gigs in and around the Portland area. These shows eventually led to a friendship with Indianapolis riff-meisters Devil to Pay, who in turn invited Eldemur Krimm to support them on their 2006 tour through the midwest and western United States. On the heels of this tour, which was a resounding success, the band quickly began work on their sophomore album Trainwreck on a Ship. It seemed as though they were on the brink of breaking out of the burgeoning Portland music scene from which they'd spawned…and then they disappeared.

Trainwreck... was unfortunately never released…although I'm fairly certain there are copies floating around out there, no official album exists. As always with Flashback Friday fodder…keep your eyes open. Unfortunately, Krimm disbanded in 2008 for reasons that are not apparent to this writer. Here's what I do know…Neil Collins and Matt Robins (the two attempts at a second guitarist) are now playing in riff-heavy rock band Murcielago. Stefen Samuels is also active, playing with another Portland rock outfit called Clubber Lang. Jason Marshall has played with indie rock band Subject Bias, but any recent music activity is unbeknownst to me. As for Fred Dodge…who knows…he's a ghost. The best I can tell you is something I read online…"he's a warlock in the great Maine woods where doors to other dimensions exist." You know…it sounds about right to me.